To investigate some basic aspects of soil remediationusing biomimetic catalysts, the effects of humic substances(HSs) on the removal of xenobiotics, such as pentachlorophenol (PCP), were investigated. The use of a biomimeticcatalytic system using tetra(
p-sulfophenyl)porphine-iron(III) (Fe(III)-TPPS) and potassium monopersulfate(KHSO
5) resulted in the disappearance of PCP, accompaniedby dechlorination. In addition, this process was enhancedby the presence of several types of HSs. The degreesof enhancement (%
![](/images/gifchars/delta.gif)
(PCP)
60) achieved by the presenceof HSs from peat and compost soils were larger than thosein the presence of other types of HSs (tropical peat,brown forest, and ando soils). In control experiments, noPCP disappearance and dechlorination were observed in thepresence of only KHSO
5, only Fe(III)-TPPS, or combinationsof HSs and either KHSO
5 or Fe(III)-TPPS. To betterunderstand the role of added HS in enhancing or inhibitingPCP disappearance, correlations between the chemicalparameters of the HSs and %
![](/images/gifchars/delta.gif)
(PCP)
60 were investigated.The most effective HSs had lower carboxylic acidcontents and lower degrees of unsaturation. The carboxylicacid content and degree of unsaturation increase withthe extent of humification. Therefore, HSs of a lower degreeof humification would be predicted to be more useful inenhancing the disappearance of PCP in an Fe(III)-TPPS/KHSO
5 system.